Dispensing apparatus for powdered material



April 7, 1956 LE ROY A. BROWN 2,742,194

DISPENSING APPARATUS FOR POWDERED MATERIAL Filed Jan. 5, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

April 17, 1956 LE ROY A. BROWN DISPENSING APPARATUS FOR POWDERED MATERIAL Filed Jan. 5, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

April 17, 1956 LE ROY A. BROWN DISPENSING APPARATUS FOR POWDERED MATERIAL Filed Jan. 5, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. lefigy Q 320m April 17, 1956 LE ROY A. BROWN DISPENSING APPARATUS FOR POWDERED MATERIAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 5, 1953 INVENTOR. gc figy Q. Emu/22 This invention relates to a new and improved dispens- United States Patent ice eliminate this difiiculty the dispenser should be adapted to be readily and conveniently separated into its component parts so that these parts may be immersed inhot If the dispensing apparatus forms a part of the cap of ing apparatus and more particularly to a device for feeding a predetermined amount of V pulverulent material which is hygroscopic in nature in an efficient manner by means of apparatus which is simply constructed and easily operated.

Although the device described herein is capable of dispensing other types of powdered material, it is particular ly adapted to the feeding of malted milk powder as used at soda fountains and other similar installations, and, consequently, the description will be primarily directed at this use. A dispensing apparatus, {which is adapted for use at sodafountains where space is at'a premium and where appearance is of primary importance, should be constructed so that the apparatus is mechanically simple 'andalso toconsume a minimum amount of space. It

isalso desirable that the dispenser be constructed so that a it can be mounted upon equipment which is already installed atdrugfountains so that no special extra equip} ment need be installed in order to accommodate the dispenser. I Y l i In order to make "possiblethe rapid operation of the tion. 1

the jar in accordance with: the present invention, it is also possible quickly to exchange empty jars with prefilled jars during rush periods at the fountain so that a considerable saving in time results. The use of a dispensing apparatuswhich forms the lid for the container also enables the malt powder to be shipped in containers which are sealed to keep the malt dry and fresh and which can be put directly into-the dispenser by merely replacing the cap on the container with a portion of the dispensing mechanism while the container is in an upright posi- The prior art discloses devices which meet one or more of the desirable requirements set forth above. However, none of the dispensing mechanisms which. are commercially availableprovide a solution to all. of the .probleins, 'and thosewhich are available are more complex dispenser at a time when the drug fountain attendant is y carrying receptacles for the-malted powder in each hand, the operating mechanism for the dispenser should be readily accessible and should be operable with aminimum of effort.

Since the material to be dispensed is expensive, the

amount delivered for each actuation of the operating.

I mechanism of the dispenser should be uniform, for if an "number of problems due to the hydroscopic nature of the material which causes the malt to tend to cling to the mechanism of thedispensing apparatus. Therefore, the dispenser should be provided with some means for jarring the dispensing mechanism in order to free the malted material and permit it to be dispensed in uniform quantities. Due to the tendency of the malted milk to cake, 'the dispensercshould also be providedtwith' agita- T mm for breaking up the lumps inthe malted material to permit'it to be dispensed in a .powdered'form. "It is desir able that-Ithejarring means 'and the-agitator be pro vided ina mechanism whiehis mechanically simple and i which is formed in o'ne 'integral unit forminga dispens ing cap for the container -for the malted material to replace the conventional cap supplied with such container.

Such a dispensing'cap will enable the mechanism to be constructed as inexpensively as possible and will permit the material to be dispensed in a rapid and facile manner.

Another result of the tendency of the malted material to adhere to the dispensing structure is that the mechanism is thereby rendered ineflicient in operation. To

than'the mechanism of' the present invention. The problems inherent in malt dispensing devices have been solved in the present invention by providing a dispenserwhich is adapted to be mounted upon commercially availablemixing devices, or-which, if desired, may be mounted upon a separate base. The dispensingcap forms a seal for a wide-mouthed container whiclris. designed to be inverted so that the malt material flows? over the dispensing device; .;The'malt powder in the container is periodically stirred by an agitator which is operated" upon actuation of the operating means'for the dispensing mechanism. The dispensing mechanism includes a compartmented distributing device in which an overhead seal is provided for the chamber which is to discharge the predetermined amount of malted material. The compartmented distributor is moved uniformly in a step-by-step arrangement by an actuating lever which is easily accessible and which is operable by a minimum of downwardly applied force. The step-by-step movement of the distributor is accompiished by a conventional ratchet and pawl system. However,the indexing mechanism isaddition .to its function in locating the compartmented distributor in a discharge position also acts as a striker in order to jar the vanes of the compartmented distributor to loosen any of the hygroscopic material which might tend to adhere to these vanesand to the other elements of the distributing mechanism. A single tensioning spring supplies the energy for both the indexing action and the striking force, and consequently, this'plurality of functions for each of tlie'elements enables construction of a dispensing device which utilizes a minimum number of moving: parts. Each of the elements of the dispensing mechanism may be readily disassembled without disturbing the powder in the jar r complex has been provided.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a simplified agitating and dispensing device having a comparatively few operating parts, which are arranged for maximum ease of operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a dispenserwhich is as compact as possible and which is designed to form a dispensing cap for the container in which the material to be dispensed is housed.

P ttented Apr. 17, 1956 'the'dispensing mechanism to insure the complete discharge of'the measured quantity of material.

.:-Another object is to provide'a dispensing apparatus in which the elements of the dispensing mechanism may be readily disassembled for purposes of cleaning without disturbing; the pulverulent, material in the container from which the material is being dispensed.

- Still another .object is ,to provide a dispenser which includesta compartmented distributor for. discharging a measured amount of hygroscopic material in which a single energy storing means supplies energy for indexing a distributor which is moved in a step-by-step arrangement andalso supplies energy for actuating a striking means for loosening the hygroscopic material from thedistributor and from the other elements of the distributingmechanism to insure the complete discharge of the measured quantity of hygroscopic material. a

Further objects. and advantages of the present invention 7 1 I For a better understanding of the present invention re ference may be had to the accompanying drawings H1 which:

- Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the dispensing apparatus of the present invention when mounted upon a commercially available mixing device;

. Fig. 2 isa' perspective view showing the dispensing ap- 7 paratus of Fig. '1 whenmounted upon a separate base;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged exploded view of aportion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 looking in the directionv of. the arrows 3-3 of Fig. 1 and showing with particularity the structure for mounting the dispensing apparatus on the mixing machine of Fig. l; v v g a Fig. 4- is a top view of the v dispensing apparatus with the container for the material to be dispensed removed;

Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the dispensingapparatus of Fig.4 with the outer receptacle cut away better to disclose the various parts; Y r V Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a portion of the dispensing apparatus shown in Fig. 2 taken along a line substantially corresponding to line 66 of Fig. 2; V

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the substantially S-shaped pawl member in an actuated'positionso as to apply tension to a coiled spring upon operation of the operating mechanism for the dispenser;

Fig. 8 illustrates an exploded view of-a portion of the dispensing apparatus showing the agitator and the comcharacters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown in Fig. l a dispenser designated generally as 20 which is shown mounted upon a mixing machine designated generally as 21, which machine is or the type described in United States Patent No. 2,619,332, to Prince et al., dated November 25, 1952,

' and is extensively sold throughout the United States and in foreign countries. In the event that the mixing'machine of the type shown in Fig, 1 or other suitable pre viously installed apparatus for mounting the dispenser 20 4 e ism; availa le tthe qiaiq te n h mme may be mounted upon a separate base 22 as shown in Fig. 2.

There is shown in Fig. 3 a dispensing mechanism indicated generally as 23 which is adapted to be secured to a standard container 24 so as to form a lid for the container to hold the malted milkv powder. or the like therein. A hand-operated actuating mechanism indicated generally as 25 serves'to operate the dispensing mechanism and discharge a predetermined quantity of malted material through the dispensing mechanism for each operation of the actuating mechanism. V

In order to dispense uniform measured quantities of powdered material from the container upon successive operations er "the actuating mechanism 25, the dispensing mechanism 23 includes a metering means which is moved in a step-by-step manner upon the successive actuations of the mechanism 25 and which is designated generally as 26 in Fig. 8 of the drawings. To provide a means for indexing the meteringmeans in a discharge position and to; also provide 1a means for jarring the metering means with eachoperation of the actuating mechanism to loosen any hygroscopic material adhering thereto an operating mechanism indicated generally as 27 and shown in Figs. S and Tinterconnects the actuating mechanism 25 and em t r ns m a slfi 1 g The operatingmechanism 27 includes an operating arm 28 which isoperably connected with thehand-operated actuating mechanism 25 as willbecome apparent from the following description so that the operation of the actuating mechanism .pivqts operating arm 28 in a clockwise direction. as viewed in Fig. 5 about a pivot pin 29 which is secured to a dispensing tray 30. The pivoting action of the operating arm causesa pallet 3l which is pivotally mount- FLO . ed about a pin 32 secured to the operating arm 28, to actuate a ratchet 33 to thereby'advance the ratchet one step in a clockwisedirection as viewed in Fig. 5. The ratchet 33 is mounted on a stub. shaft 34 on which is also mounted the metering means 26 so that the step-by-step advancementpf the; ratchet which results'from successive operations -of, the actuating mechanism 25 causes a step-by-step movement of the-metering means. 7

In order to provide a single mechanical element which indexes the ratchet 3 3. at the termination of the actuation of the ratchet by the pallet 31 and which at the same time applies a-hammer blow to theratchet, a substantially S- shaped pawl member 35 is provided with a camming surface 36 and -a' striking surface 37 positioned on the pawl membersothat prior to the operation of the operating arm 28 these twosurfaces contaet diametrically opposed teeth on; theratchetj33n The advancement of the ratchet by .the pallet 31 forces the camming surface 36. to ride upon theou ter periphery. of the ratchet tooth with which it. is incontact to thereby -cause the pawl 35 to pivot about: apin 38jmounted on the tray 30 so that tension is applied to a coiled tension spring 39 which is stretched between an apertured lip 40 onthepawl member 35 and an apertured finger41= onthe operating arm 28. The pivoting movementof the pawl 35 about the pin 38 also inducesthewithdrawal of the striking surface 371 from contact with the ratchet 33 and enablesthe spring 39 to store up the energy applied to the, actuating mechanism 25 dur ingthe- ,h'and.operation'zthereof; When the ratchet ,33.has been rotatedsufliciently in a elockwise direction by the pallet 31 to apositionshownin Fig. ,7,'the camming surface 36 ispos'itioned at theouter extremity of one of the teeth on ther'a'tchet 33 andlth'e'striking surface 37 is withdrawn a maximum distance away from the ratchet 33. Further movement of the ratchet causes the camming surface 36 to be forced into aninterdental space on the ratchet to thereby release. the energy, stored inthe tension spring 39 and direct the striking surface. 37 toward the ratchet 33. The energy stored in the spring; is of sufficient magnitude I0, cause the surface'37 toimpart a hammer blow to the ratchet to thereby jar the ratchet; the stub shaft 34,- and th me erin m an ur@ i he e Order t t th elements may be freed of any hygroscopic material which $5 tends to adhere theretor Hence, itcan be seen that the pawl member 35 serves a dual purpose in that it properly indexes the ratchet 33 at the termination of a stepping ac tion caused by the actuating mechanism and also serves to impart a blow to the metering means to prevent the accumulation of powdered material on the surface of the metering means.

So that the pallet 31 will remain in contact with the ratchet 33 andwill be brought into positionto step the ratchet upon the next succeeding application of force to the actuating mechanism 25,;there is provided a spring42 which interconnects an apertured arm'43 of the pallet 31 and an apertured tab 44 on the operating arm 28. This spring normally urges clockwise rotation of the pallet 31 as viewed in Fig.5so thatthe constant engagement between the pallet and the ratchet is assured. limit the counterclockwise movement of the operating arm 28, which results upon release of the spring 39 when the V camming surface 36 occupies an interdental space on the ratchet 33, a stop 45 is mounted on the tray 30 in the path of movement of the operating arm 28. In like manner, a stop 46 secured to the tray 30 limits the clockwise movement of the arm 28 when the arm is pivoted by the operation of the actuating mechanism 25.

The metering means 26, best shown in Fig' 8 of the drawings, includes a compartmented distributor 47 which consists of an open-ended hollow cylindrical hub 48 and a plurality of equidistantly spaced radial vanes 49 projecting outwardly from the hub whereby each of the spaces between adjacent vanes form a malt receiving chamber for delivering the malted milk powder to a' delivery passageway 50 in the dispensing tray 30. To provide for rotation'of the distributor 47 with the shaft 34, the cylindricalhub 48 telescopes over a' central annular bearing 51 surrounding the shaft 34 and secured to the tray 30, so

that. a substantially rectangular opening 52 in the closed end of the cylindrical hub 48 registers with a similarly shaped key 53 formed integral with the stub shaft 34 and projecting upwardly therefrom whereby the compartmented distributor is locked to rotate with the key 53 and the sides of the passageway 50.

' Also in registry with the key 53is a rectangular slot 58 in an agitator hub 59 which has secured theretoa pluralityof upwardly directed and staggered agitator fingers j 60 which are rotated with the stub shaft 34 so as to stir the pulverulent material in the container and prevent it from lumping. The agitation-- of the malted material causes the powder to be finely divided to provide for even settlement of'the material within the chambersformed by adjacent vanes of the distributor.47 to thereby assure the discharge of uniform quantities of material from the dispenser. Formed integral with the key 53 and projecting upwardly therefrom is an offset rod 61 which has a substantially rectangular tab 62 secured to the outer end I thereof for receiving a rectangularly slotted locking cap 63. A compression spring 64 is positioned between the cap 63 and the agitator hub 59 in order to apply pressure between the closed end of the cylindrical hub 48 and the top ofv the central annular bearing. 51 whereby powder is prevented from entering the bearing andsticking of the shaft is thereby alleviated.

To facilitate the quick assembly and disassembly o the component parts'of the metering means, the locking cap 63 is provided with a rectangular indentation 65 which In order to 6 is formed'at right angles to the rectangular slot of the cap so that the cap 63 may be inserted over the rectangular tab 62 by means of the rectangular slot in thecap. To

lock the elements of the metering means 26 in assembled position the compression'spring'64is compressed by a slight fingertip pressure applied to the outer surface of the cap and the cap is rotated 90 until the indentation in the upper surface of the cap registers with the rectangu lar tab 63. Upon release of the fingertip pressure on the cap, the compression spring expands to apply pressure between the locking cap 63 and the agitator hub 59 to thereby hold the metering means in position. I

From time to time during the operation of a malted milk dispenser it becomes desirable that thedispensing mechanism be disassembled in order to wash the component parts of the mechanism in hot water or other suitable solvent means to thereby remove any malted material which cakes on these elements. In order that the metering means 26 be disassembled with speed and facility, it is necessary only to remove the dispensing tray 30, apply a slight downward pressure on the outer surface of the locking cap 63 in order to compress the spring 64, and finally rotate this cap through 90 until the slot in the cap is aligned with the rectangular tab 62. The cap may now be removed and the agitator, the closure plate, and the compartmented distributor may be lifted from the rectangular key 53 on the stub shaft 34 with ease.

In order to permit the tray 30 which contains the metering means 26 and the operating mechanism 27 to function as a'lid for the container 24, the inner periphery of the side walls of the tray is threaded at 66 in order to receive the threaded mouth of the container 24 which holds the malt material. When the tray 30 containing the dis- 7 pensing' mechanism is thus applied to the container full of material, one composite unit is formed which is inverted and placed into a large receiving cup 67, the upper end of j which is flanged to accommodate the neck of the container 24 and the bottom of which is provided with a segmental opening 68 which receives a spout 69 secured to the tray 3%) and projecting downwardly in alignment with the edges of the discharge passageway 50 in the tray. .The tray 30 is provided with a laterally extending peripheral flange 70 which rests upon a plurality of ledges 71 secured at spaced positions to the inner surface of the cup 67 at an equal predetermined distance above the cup bottom so that the spout 69 projects through the segmental opening 68 and a small distance beyond the bottom of the cup.

iivotally secured to the cup 67 is a U-shaped operating handle bar 72 which is attached to the cup by means of a pair of pivot bolts 73 and 74 which pass through the walls of the cup. Secured to the bolt 73 so as to be rotatable therewith upon movement of the operating handle is an operating lever 75 which extends through a peripheral slot 76 in the flanged portion 70 of the tray 30 and contacts an operating tab 77 (see Fig. 9) formed at an oblique angle on the operating arm 28 and extending from the arm 28 along the side of the tray 30. The operating handle bar 72 is normally positioned at its uppermost position so that to actuate the dispenser it is necessary to depress the handle bar to thereby induce counterclockwise rotation of the operating lever 75 as viewed in Fig. 9. The counterclockwise movement of the operating lever moves the tab 77 and the operating arm 28 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 5 and thus causes the distributor 47 to be moved one step to discharge malted material through the opening 50 and into a receptacle which is placed beneath the spout 69. A suitable stop 77a fastened to the interior wall of the cup 67 limits pivotal movement of the handle bar 72 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

To properly position the receptacle beneath the opening: 50 in the tray and beneath the spout 69 a guide member 78 may be secured to the bottom of the cup 67. Thecup may be secured to a separate base member 22 as;

shown in'Fig. 2, or. as shown inFig. '1 the. cup may be. it

mounted on 'a mixing machine presently in useat many soda fountains. If the dispenser is to be mounted on a .maehine of the typeshown in Fig.1, the cup 67 is secured machine. The forward portion of the platform is pro.

vided with mounting legs '82 which may. be made of rubber. or other suitable: resilient material in. order to.

permit the-dispenser to rest upon the upper portion of the'mixing machine. 21 without damaging the surface of the machine.

i. It is now apparent that in. the mixing of a malted beverage-a receptacle is placed incontact with the. guide 78 below the spout 69 andthe aligned openings 50. and 68- in: the tray- 30- and the. cup. 67, respectively. The operating handle. 72 which must be. actuated. vertically downward inorder to. dispense. the malt is large enough and is operatedwith such facility that. a minimum amount of etfortis required to depress the bar and therefore only small force applied by either a free hand of the operator or-by the forearm, or even by one of the containers in the event thatboth hands are full, is required in order to actuate the mechanismand dispense a charge ofmalted millcpo'wder. The downward actuation of the handle bar 72 rotates the operating lever 75 and pivots the operating arm 28 about the dispensing tray 30.

Movement of the operating arm causes the pallet 31 to dischargeopening 50 in the tray 38. The pawl 35 then falls into a n interdental space on the ratchet properly to index the ratchet and the compartmented. distributor and at the same time the energyof the tension spring 39 which has been'stored duringth'e movement ofv the open.

ating bar 2 8 is released to thereby cause the striking surface of the pawl 3510 impart a hammer blow to the ratchet- 33 which istransmitted tothe vanes of the compar'tnien'ted:distributor. The blow applied to the distributing mechanism causes the material which may tend toadhere-tothewallsof the vanes to be jarred loose but does not causethepowderto bethrown from-the cup 67 so thabinthis manner the receptacle positioned beneath thespout receives the entire charge ofv powder contained within the chamber betweenthe two adjacent vanes positioned beneath the closing plate 56. The release of tension on the spring 39 causes the operating bar 28' to return to its normal position and thus the operating lever is rotated toreturnthe operating handle to its uppermost position. Simultaneously with the indexing of the ratchet, the spring 42 brings the pallet 31 into abutment with a toothof the ratchet 33 toawait the next succeeding operation of the handle bar 72. Thus,'each actuation of the handlebar. briugs two adjacent vanes of the compartmentedrdistributor 47"under the-closing plate 56iand into alignment with the discharge opening in the tray 30 and causes a hammer blow to be struck to these vanes in be delivered to the receptacle.

In orderto disassemble the mechanism forpurposes of ordertoassurethat a measured'quantityof materialwill- 'cleaning,'it is. necessary merely to lift the container and the tray containing the dispensing mechanism from the 'cup167. Thetray 30 may-then be removed from-the container '24 and; the locking cap 63', the agitators, the closure plate and the compartmcnted distributorremoved in the manner previously described. This operation may be accomplished'very rapidly andthe parts removed may parts of the dispenser-( i any materialwhich:may-adhere container merely unscrewing thev dispensing tray 30.

and applyingthisi tray to a prefilled: container. In rush periods thisrreplacernent may be accomplished ina matter of seconds and thus considerable lost time is avoided.

It is to be understood thatthe foregoing description is. pertinent only. to a preferred embodiment of-the invention to illustrate the principles thereof. Obviously many modifications. and variations of this invention. are possible in the light oftheabove teachings. It is. intended by the appended claimsv to covenall modifications and variations which fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed as, new and: desired to be secured by Letters. Patent of the United. States, is:

1. An. apparatus. for dispensing pulverulent material from a container, which apparatus comprises a tray having a delivery passageway thereinand being adapted to be secured to the container to form a. lid therefor,- meter. ing means attached tosaidytray for delivering a measured quantity of material to said passageway, operating mechanism for, causing said delivery means to be actuated in step-by-steparrangemfil to successively discharge a measured; quantityof material through saidv passageway for each actuation of the operatin'gmeehanism, a single member having at-least two spaced surface portions contacting said operating mechanism one. of said surface portions indexing said metering means in proper position to discharge said measured quantity of material through saidpassageway for each step=inthe step-by-step actuation of the operating meehanismand. the other of said surface portions.contactingsaid operating mechanism to delivera striking blow to the mechanism-and to the metering means to, thereby loosen any material which tends to adhere to these elements, and are silientmember. interconnecting M; said single member-and said operating mechanism so as.

'to store energy during the actuation of said operating mechanism and to supply said-energy to said m'ember afterthe actuation of, said operating mechanism. for simultaneously indexing the meteringmcans and deliveririg thestrikingblow.

2. An apparatus for dispensing pulverulentmaterial from acontainer, said5 apparatus comprising a tray. having a delivery passagewaytherein. and being adapted to. be'secured to the container to form a lid therefor; means.

attached to; saidtray for-delivering a measured quantity ofmaterial tosaidpassagewa'y, and operating mechanism for causing saiddelivering. meansto be actuated in step-by-step arrangement; todischarge a measured: quantity ofmateriah through saidpassageway. for eachwhich indexes said ratchet-jateach of the-steps of said- -ope rating, mechanism and; the other of which delivers a striking blow to the; mechanism to free the moving thereto, and aresilient member interconnectingthe pawl n -th pe ti mech ni m o a to to rgy ing the actuationof saidgoperating mechanism and to pawlmember having a pair or surfaces in contact with said ratchet so i warranties of the-ratchet causes a first of said surfaces to be withdrawn from theratchet as the second of said surfaces rides upon a tooth of the ratchet, and a resilient means connected to said pawl member for forcing said second surface into an interdental space on said ratchet to index the delivery means in a discharge position and to simultaneously direct the first of said surfaces toward the ratchet to deliver a striking blow to the operating mechanism and the delivering means to thereby free the parts of the dispensing apparatus of any material which may adhere thereto.

4. An apparatus for dispensing hygroscopic material from a container, said apparatuscomprising a tray having a delivery passageway therein and being adapted to be secured to the container to form a lid therefor, means attached to said tray for delivering a measured quantity of material through said passageway, and operating mechanism for causing said delivering means to be actuated in step-by-steparrangement to discharge one of said measured quantities of material through said passageway for each actuation of the operating mechanism, said mechanism including a step-by-step rotatable ratchet, a substantially S-shaped pawl having a pair of contact members in contact with diametrically opposed teeth on said ratchet so that rotation of the ratchet causes a first of said contact members to ride upon one of the teeth of the ratchet to thereby withdraw the second of said contact members from contact with'the ratchet, and a resilient member for forcing said first member into an interdental space in said ratchet toindex the delivering means in a discharge position above said passageway and for simultaneously directing the second of said contact members toward the ratchet to deliver a striking blow thereto'which frees the elements of the operating mechanism and the delivering means of any material which tends to adhere thereto.

5. A dispensingapparatus for discharging'hygroscopic material from a container, said apparatus comprising a tray having a delivery passageway therein and being.

adapted to be secured to the container so as to form a lid for said container, a bearing assembly mounted on said tray, a stub shaft extending throughsaid bearing assembly so as to be rotatably journaled therein, a compartmented distributor having a plurality of radial vanes and being attached to said shaft so as to rotate there with, a closing plate positioned above the passageway in the tray so as to cover two adjacent vanes of said distributor to thereby form an isolated chamber when two adjacent vanes of the distributor are aligned with the delivery passageway in the tray so as to be covered by the closing plate, a ratchet secured to said shaft, actuating mechanism for imparting step-by-step rotation to said ratchet and to said distributor so that adjacent vanes of said distributor are aligned with said passageway upon each actuation of the actuating mechanism, a single pawl for indexing said ratchet at each of the steps and for delivering a striking blow to the ratchet and the distributor to free those parts of any material which adheres thereby simultaneously index the ratchet and deliver the striking blow. v

6. A dispensing apparatus for discharging hygroscopic material from a container, said apparatus comprising a tray having a delivery passageway therein and being adapted to be secured to the container so as to form a lid for said container, a stub shaft extending through said tray so as to be rotatable therein, a compartmented:

distributor having a plurality of radial, vanes and being attached to said shaft so as to rotate therewith, a closing plate positioned above the passageway in the tray so as to cover two adjacent vanes of the distributor to form "10 an isolated chamber when the adjacent vanesfto-be covered are aligned with the delivery passageway in, the tray, a ratchet secured to said shaft, actuating mechanism for imparting step-by-step rotation to said ratchet and to said compartmented distributor so that adjacent vanes of said distributor are aligned with said passageway upon each actuation of the actuating mechanism, a pawl member having a pair of surfaces in contact with-said'ratchet so that rotation of the ratchet causes a first of said surfaces to bewithdrawn from the ratchet as a second of said surfaces rides upon the tooth of said ratchet, and resilient means for forcing said second surface into an interdental space of said ratchet to index the ratchet to thereby index adjacent vanes of the compartmented distributor in alignment with the passageway and to simultaneously direct the first of said surfaces toward the ratchet to deliver a striking blow to the ratchet and the distributor and free these'elements of any material tending to adhere thereto whereby a measured quantity of material is discharged from the distributor through said passageway for each indexed position of the ratchet.

7. A dispensing apparatus for discharging hygroscopic material from a container, said apparatus comprising a tray having a delivery passageway therein and being adapted to be secured to the container so as to form a lid therefor, a stub shaft extending through said tray so as to be rotatable therein, a compartmented distributor having a-plurality of radial vanes and being attached to said shaft so as to rotate therewith, a closing plate positioned above the passageway in the tray so as to cover two adjacent vanes ofsaid distributor to thereby form an isolated chamber when the adjacentvanes to be cov ered are aligned with the delivery passageway in the tray, a ratchet secured to said shaft, an, operating arm pivotally mounted on said tray, a ratchet lever pivotally,

mounted on said arm so that one end of the lever is in contact with said ratchet, a pawl member having a pair of contact members contacting said ratchet at diametrically opposed teeth thereon, a tension spring interconnecting said pawl and said operating arm, resilient means interconnecting said ratchet lever andsaid operating arm,

and actuating mechanism for the dispenser for pivoting V the operating arm on the tray to thereby enable the ratchet lever to rotate the ratchet in step-by-step arrangement wherebythe shaft is rotated to rotate the agitator the actuation of said actuating mechanism and also serving to maintain the first contact member in contact with the outer periphery of the ratchet so that upon rotation of the ratchet the first contact member is forced into an interdental space of said ratchet to release the stored energy of the spring and thereby cause the second contact member to deliver a striking blow to the ratchet and the shaft to free the movingparts of the distributing mechanism from hygroscopic material which tends to adhere thereto, the resilient member operating the ratchet lever simultaneously with the striking action of the pawl to position said lever in contact with the ratchet so as to be in position to'rotate the ratchet upon the next succeeding actuation of the actuating mechanism.

distributor having a plurality of radial vanes and being,

attached to said shaft so as torotate therewith, a closing 11 plate positioned above the passagewayin the tray so as to cover two adjacent vanes '01? said distributor to thereby form anisolated-cham ber when the adjacent vanes to be covered are aligned with-the delivery passageway in the tray, an agitator secured to said shaft'for stirring the hygroscopic material, aratc'he'tisecur'ed to said shaft, an operatingarm pivot-ally mounted on said tray, a ratchet lever pivotally mounted-on said-arm so that one end of the lever is in contact withsaid ratchet, a substantially S-shap'ed pawl having a pair of contact memberscontacting said ratchet atdiametrical-ly opposed teeth thereon, a tension spring interconnecting said pawl and said operating-arm, resilient mean-s'interconnecting sa-id pawl and said operating arm, actuating mechanism for the dispenser for pivotingthe operating arm on the tray to thereby enable the ratchet lever to rotate the ratchet in step-byI-step arrangement whereby the shaft is; rotated to rotate the agitator and successively move two adjacent vanes of the eompartmented distributor into alignment with the passageway to discharge a measured quantity of hygroscopic material, the rotation of said ratchet causing a first of said contact members to ride upon the outer periphery of one of the ratchet teeth so that the second of said contact members is withdrawn out of contact with said ratchet, the tension spring storing energy upon actuation of theraetuating mechanism to thereby causethe'first contact member of said pawl to be main-:

tained in contact with the outer periphery of the ratchetso thatsaid. first contact member is forced into an interdental space on said ratchet to thereby cause the tension spring torelease its stored energy and enable the second contact member to deliver .a striking blow to the ratchet to free the moving parts of the distributor mechanism from hygroscopic material which tends to adhere thereto, the resilient member operating the ratchet lever simultaneously with the striking action of the pawl to bring the ratchet lever into position to rotate the ratchet uponthe next succeeding operation of the actuating mechanism, and a spring actuated locking device detachably secured to said shaft to hold the agitator, the closure plate, and the compartmented distributor in engagement with said shaft wherebyrremoval. of the locking device facilitates disassembly of the elements held thereby so that these elements may be cleaned without removing the material from-vthe-container.

9. Apparatus for dispensing pulverulent material from a container'disposed above said apparatuscomprising a plate having a discharge passageway therein, metering means for delivering a measured quantity of said material from the container through said passageway, mann ally actuated operating mechanism for causing said delivering means :to be actuated, in step-by-step arrangement to successively-discharge ameasured quantity of- 'material through said passageway for each actuationof the operating mechanism, a single member having at least two spaced surface portions contacting said opera ing mechanism,- one of said surface portions indexing said metering means in proper position to discharge said measured quantity of material through said passageway for each step in the-step-by-step actuation of the operating mechanism and the other of said surface portions 'plateahaving azdisc'harge passageway therein, means carried'. by saidiplateefor delivering aimea'sured' quantity of 12 sa-id material from the container through said passage- Way, and manually actuated operating mechanism for causing said delivering means to beactuated in step-bystep arrangement to dischargea measured quantity of material through saidpassageway for each actuation of v the operating mechanism, said mechanism including a ratchet, asingle pawl having at least two spaced surface portions contacting said ratchet one of which indexes said ratchet at each;of the steps of said operating mechanism and the other of which delivers a striking blow to the mechanism to free the moving parts of the apparatus of any material which may adhere thereto, and a resilient member connected to the pawl for storing energy during the actuation of said operating mechanism and for supplyingthis stored energy to'said pawl after the actuation of the operating mechanism to simultaneously index the ratchet and' deliver-the strikingblow.

11. Apparatus for dispensing pulverulent material from a container-disposed above said apparatus comprising a plate having a'disc'harge' passageway therein, means carried by said plate for delivering a measured quantity of material from the container through said passageway, and manually actuated operating mechanism for causing the deliveringmeans to be actuated in step-by-step ar- 1 rangement todischargeone of said measured quantities of material through said passageway for each actuation of the operating-mechanism; said mechanism including a step-by-step rotatable ratchet, a pawl member having a pair of 'surfacesin' contact with said ratchet so that rotation of the ratchet causes a first of said surfaces to be-withd'rawn from the'r-atchet as the second of said surfaces rid'es upon a tooth of the ratchet, and aresilient means connected to said pawl member for forcing said second surface intoa'n interdental space on said ratchet to index the delivery means in a discharge position and to simultaneously direct the first of said surfaces toward the. ratchet to deliver a striking blow to the' operating meehariism and the delivering means thereby to free ating-mechanism', said mechanism including a step by-step rotatable ratchet, a substantially S-shaped pawl having a'pair'of members in-contact with diametrically opposed teeth on saidratchet so that rotation of the ratchet causes-a first of'said contact members to ride upon one oftheteeth' of th'e-ratchet'to thereby withd'raw'the second ofsai'd contactmembers'from contact with the ratchet, and a resilient member for forcing said firstmember into an interdental space in said ratchet to index the delivering means in a discharge position above said passageway and for simultaneously'directing the second-of said contact members toward-the ratchet to deliver a striking blow thereto which'fre es' the elements of the operating mechanism and the deliverin'gmeans of any material which tends to adhere thereto.

13. In an apparatus for dispensing pulverulent materialfrom a container; a tray having'a delivery passageway therein and being 'adapted-detachably to be secured to said container'to form a cover therefor, a cup for receiving and-holding the covered container in inverted position with the tray seated within the cup, said cup having side-portionsextending'upwardly from said bottom and'lo'os'ely surrounding said tray so that the container-andthetray may "berea'dily'lifted'fromsaid cup for cleaning-and re filli'ng, a" substantially U-shaped manuallyoperated' liandl havingits lgdmounted on said cup for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, an element carried internally of said cup and connected to one of said legs so as to be moved upon the manual operation of said handle, metering means carried by said tray on the top side thereof when the container is in inverted position for delivering a measured quantity of material to said passageway, and mechanism carried on the bottom of the tray and including a member engageable vby said element when the covered container is positioned within the cup whereby the metering'means is actuated in step-by-step arrangement to successively discharge a uniform quantity of material through said passageway for each manual operation of said handle.

14. In an apparatus for dispensing pulverulent materialfrom a dispensing container, a tray having a delivery passageway therein and being adapted detachably to be secured to said container to form a cover therefor, a cup for receiving and holding the covered container in inverted position with the tray seated within the cup, said cup having side portions extending upwardly from said bottom and loosely surrounding said tray so that the container and the tray may be readily lifted from said cup for cleaning and refilling, at least one pivot pin carried by said cup and extending horizontally from the inside of the cup to the outside, a manually operated handle mounted on the pivot pin externally of the cup, an element mounted on the pivot pin internally of the cup so as to be moved upon the manual operation of the handle, metering means carried by said tray on the top side thereof when the container is in inverted position for delivering a measured quantity of material to said passageway, and mechanism carried on the bottom of the tray and including a member engageable by said element when the covered container is positioned within the cup whereby the metering means is actuated in stepby-step arrangement to successively discharge a uniform quantity of material through said passageway for each manual operation of said handle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Bell Apr. 30, 1940 

